Just a few weeks after Tabula Rasa's Richard Garriott announced that he's abandoning ship and pursuing "other ventures", now he's back into the gaming scene, according to TenTonHammer and the BBC interview:

When is eclectic a bad word?

The BBC can be a great place to bring different view points together. With the power of the network, it can also bring a myriad of different personalities and cornerstones of society together. So who do they bring to the gaming industry table to discuss a look back at 2008 and peer into 2009? Pete Molyneux, check. Will Wright, check. Paul Barnett, great spokesman for the industry, check. Johnathan 'Fatal1ty' Wendel, what the hell? Richard Garriott, oh that's interesting.

And what did this eclectic group of gaming pundits bring to the table? Not much. The article is a glossy overview of non-surprises, except that (a) Richard Garriott didn't even mention Tabula Rasa, and (b) he is coming back for more! From Lord British (apparently he is going back to his old title, they didn't use the General's new title):

"Now, after a very interesting break, I'm keen to get back into the fray and work on a new game. Probably medieval fantasy and probably online; there's something very powerful about getting people together."

The highlight of 2008 for Mister Lord General?

"the high point - quite literally - was spending 12 days on the International Space Station. As a result, I've been somewhat outside the gaming scene; I was in quarantine for nearly three months in 2008..."

Good luck finding a new cash cow for your Mars trip, Rich!

YAY more Tabula Rasa!!!!!!!!!

ForrestDixon:
YAY more Tabula Rasa!!!!!!!!!

Good luck with that selling pitch. :P

Maybe he should take a few months (years) off to think hard before making something else.
I wonder if they'll let him back in quarrantine...

It'll take more than hosting an expensive medieval party to lure them cranky investors. This time, he'd better go back to his indie roots and start small.